Table service set



1967 M. E. ELLCEY ETAL 3,

TABLE SERVICE SET Filed 0st. 26, 1964 lNVENTORS MORGAN E. ELLCEY JAMES E. RHODES United States Patent Ofiice 3,295,692 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,692 TABLE SERVICE SET Morgan E. Ellcey and James E. Rhodes, Shoshoni, Wyo., assignorsto Bruce and Thelma Menzies, Douglas, Wyo. Filed Oct. 26, 1964, Ser. No. 406,366 9 Claims. (Cl. 211--74) This invention relates to a combined table service unit for napkin and condiment receptacles and is particularly directed to improvements therein in which the primary object is to provide an incentive for the user to return the condiment receptacles to the basic unit by means of the unique overall construction.

A specific object of this invention is to provide a combination table service unit of simple compact design in which a condiment receptacle holding unit is combined with a standard napkin dispenser for use in cafeterias, homes, restaurants and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a unique holding or supporting structure for condiment receptacles which is adapted to be removably mounted on a standard napkin dispenser.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides in the following specification and appended claims, certain embodiments being illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the combined table service unit of the invention in assembled form, and

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the various parts of the combined unit of FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a standard napkin dispenser is illustrated at 10 having an upper surface 11 and two oppositely disposed integral sidewall extensions thereof 12 and 13. In the usual manner the napkin dispenser 10 is provided with an opening 14 through which stacked napkins 15 are dispensed in the usual manner.

Adapted to be mounted adjacent to and supported on the surface 11 of the container 10 is a saddle 16 having side walls on four sides, three of which are shown as 17, 18 and 19. As is seen in the drawings, the saddle 16 in .the central portion is of substantial height and is provided with an upper surface 21 which provides an inverted, peaked seat for a purpose to be described. The seat 21 is formed by four angularly inwardly directed walls 22, 23, 24 and 25 which are complementary in form to provide the recessed, peaked seat.

The opposed side walls 17 and 18 are of substantial length and are bent and formed to provide a stirrup on either side of the central body or bridging portion of the saddle 16. The upper horizontal portions 27 and 23 of the stirrups, which are formed coextensively with the side walls 17 and 18, are provided with a plurality of holes 29 having a given configuration, preferably circular. The stirrups are further provided with end portions 26 and side portions 37.

Saddle 16 encompasses, in the engaged or assembled position with the container 10, the upper surface 11, with the side walls encircling the periphery of such surface. In this manner then the saddle is restrained against transverse movement in the horizontal plane relative to the surface 11 of the napkin container.

Associated with container 10 and saddle 16 are a plurality of salt and pepper shakers or the like 30, 31, 32 and 33. These receptacles are provided with a base 34 of conical forms such that the base will not support the receptacle in an upright position without external support. In use, the receptacles 30, 31, 32 and 33 are disposed in the holes 29 provided in the stirrup portions of the saddle, such holes having a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of a circular section through the base area of the cone of any one of the condiment receptacles. It will be obvious that while the receptacles will not be supported on their own base, they are readily supported by the stirrup portions of the saddle in the manner described and shown. A larger receptacle 35 is provided for sugar or the like. This receptacle has a base portion 36 of the same peaked configuration as the upper surface 21 of the bridging portion of saddle 16 and is complementary therewith from an angular standpoint. In a manner similar to the other condiment holders, the sugar receptacle 35 is incapable of standing alone in a vertically upright attitude on its base due to the peaked base configuration. However, when placed in the inverted peak section of the saddle, the receptacle 35 is firmly and positively supported against transverse or tipping movement.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that this invention provides a structure offering a strong incentive to persons using the condiment receptacles to replace the same in the only place on a table surface Where they may be supported in a vertically upright condition. In such supported position, the receptacles will be, in the normal course of use, readily available to other customers or persons Without the inconvenience usually attributable to inconsiderate persons using the material held by the unit, who may leave such receptacles of the ordinary type at any position on the counter surface.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are, therefore, to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A condiment table service unit for mounting on a napkin dispensing receptacle, comprising: saddle means for releasable mounting on the dispensing receptacle; said saddle means including a bridging portion adapted to overlie one surface of the receptacle and including a pair of depending stirrup portions disposable in the assembled position adjacent opposed side surfaces of the receptacle; said bridging portion having opposed side walls; said stirrup portions having a generally horizontally extending portion attached to the lower end of each of said side walls; said saddle means including at least one seat area in each of said bridging and horizontally extending portions; a plurality of condiment receptacles removably supported on the seat areas of said saddle.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said saddle includes additional opposed side walls extending transverse to said stirrup portions; said side walls adapted to overlie the sides of the receptacle in the assembled position to pre-.

vent movement of said saddle means in any horizontal direction relative to the receptacle; each of said condiment receptacles having a base configuration rendering it incapable of standingin an unsupported upright position; and said bridging seat area having a configuration complementary to the corresponding condiment receptacle.

3. A combination table service unit for napkins and condiments comprising a dispensing receptacle for stacked napkins, said receptacle including an upper surface and a pair of opposed side surfaces, a saddle removably supported on the upper surface of the receptacle, said saddle including a bridging portion overlying the upper surface of said receptacle and including a pair of depending stirrup portions disposed in the assembled position adjacent the side surfaces of the receptacle, the bridging portion of the saddle being of substantial depth and including an inverted peaked receptacle seat and each stirrup portion including at least one hole therethrough and a plurality of condiment receptacles, each having a base configuration rendering the holders incapable of standing in an unsupported, upright attitude, one of said condiment receptacles including a base configuration complementary with the seat in the bridging portion of the saddle and the other condiment receptacles having a configuration agreeing with the configuration of the stirrup holes whereby said holders may be supported by said stirrups in a vertically upright attitude.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said stirrup portion seat areas include circular horizontally disposed apertures, and said condiment receptacles supported in said stirrup portion seat areas have inverted cone shaped bottom portions.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein said stirrup portion seat areas include circular horizontally disposed apertures, and said condiment receptacles supported in said stirrup portion seat areas have inverted cone shaped bot tom portions.

6. A condiment table service unit for mounting on a napkin dispensing receptacle, comprising: saddle means for mounting on the dispensing receptacle; said saddle means including a bridging portion adapted to overlie one surface of the receptacle and including a pair of depending stirrup portions disposable in the assembled position adjacent opposed surfaces of the receptacle; said saddle means including at least one seat area in each of said bridging and stirrup portions, a plurality of condiment receptacles removably supported on each of said seat areas of said saddle, said bridging portion seat area having wall means forming an inverted wedge-shaped seat; and the condiment receptacle that is supported on said bridging portion seat area having a complementary inverted wedgeshaped base portion.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein said bridging portion seat area has wall means forming an inverted wedgeshaped seat, and said condiment receptacle supported on said bridging portion seat area has a complementary inverted wedge-shaped base portion.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said stirrup portion seat areas include circular horizontally disposed apertures, and said condiment receptacles supported onsaid stirrup portion seat areas have inverted cone shaped bottom portion.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said stirrup portion seat areas include circular horizontally disposed apertures, and said condiment receptacles supported inv said stirrup portion seat areas have inverted cone shaped bottom portions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,292,480 1/1919 Kessel 312'-61 1,682,580 8/1928 Pratt 22151 2,080,865 5/1937 Lassiter 211-74 2,963,167 12/1960 Norman 21174 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

JOHN PETO, Examiner. 

1. A CONDIMENT TABLE SERVICE UNIT FOR MOUNTING ON A NAPKIN DISPENSING RECEPTACLE, COMPRISING: SADDLE MEANS FOR RELEASABLE MOUNTING ON THE DISPENSING RECEPTACLE; SAID SADDLE MEANS INCLUDING A BRIDGING PORTION ADAPTED TO OVERLIE ONE SURFACE OF THE RECEPTACLE AND INCLUDING A PAIR OF DEPENDING STIRRUP PORTIONS DISPOSABLE IN THE ASSEMBLED POSITION ADJACENT OPPOSED SIDE SURFACES OF THE RECEPTACLE; SAID BRIDGING PORTION HAVING OPPOSED SIDE WALLS; SAID STIRRUP PORTIONS HAVING A GENERALLY HORIZONTALLY EXTEND- 